Folding scaffold for silos.



W. W. GARNER.

FOLDNG SCAFFULD FOR SILOS.

APPLICATION FILED MILS, |911.

1,258,402. Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

la 1*!!1 1% WMM lI W. W. GAHNER.

FOLDING SCAFFOLD FOR SILOS.

APPLICATION mEn JAN. 19H.

1,258,402. Patented Mar; 5, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

of and adjacent to one side of the openingsV Suitably mounted on theoutside of thesilo wall `near the ground is a windlass 38, which isprovided with a ratchet and dog mechanism A39, adapted to preventunwinding of the rope or other flexible device on the windlass. Flexibledevices-fi() are secured at each end to the opening 21 in links 19, andextend through suitable eyes 41, which are placed adjacent to the innerends of theplatforms 2Q. A flexible device 43 1s fixed to the flexibledevice 40 intermediate ofthe eye-bolts 4:1, and extends up over theroller 14, through the pulley del, back o ver the roller 14 and down toa similar flexible device 40, at the other side of the platforms 22.

The pulley 44 has a fiexible device i5 de-y tachably secured thereto andextended over the `pulley 37'V down to `the windlass 38 to which theother` end is secured.v

A hook-46 is secured in one of the rafters 12 adjacent to the `roller14. 4

It will be `understood that this device is intended for use inconnection with the installation of a blower pipe, such as'has recentlycome `into the general use for the filling of silos.

Whenever a blower pipe has been installed, in the past, it has been thecustom to place a ladder against a silo wall and have a man climb theladder to a point adjacent to the opening 16, and from his precariousperch on the ladder to pull the blower pipe up to said opening, so thatthe elbow of thepipe might be hooked over the top of the silo wall. Itwas then necessary for the operatolyrfrom asimilar precarious positionto pull the blower pipe, which is used for distrilmting the ensilagc onthe in side, up to 'the elbow, and extend it through the opening 16 and`hook `it to the elbow. This lprocess involves a largeamount of dangerto themen who has to work at the top of the silopulling up the blowerpipe,

but it was impossible to use alscaffold of` ordinary construction forthe operator to stand on, becauseof the expense of providing a`ermanentscaffold, andbecause if such a `sca old were used on the`insideof the silo, it would preventvfilling the latter up to the topofthe silo wall, thereby `wastingconsid erable space.

The applicant "has provided a folding l scaffold whichis adaptedto'extend from the door in the silo wall, which is always provided, acrossthe top of the silo to the opening in the roof which receives the blowerpipe, whcrebyi'he operator .may stand on a secure platform while he ispulling up the blower pipe, v

This enables the operator to work at greater advantage, and at the sametime limitsthe possibilities of `accidents on account of the precariousfooting, such as is the case Where temporary supports are used for theoperator to stand on.

In the operation of this device, it will be understood thatthefiflexible device 115 extends through a suitable notch, either `inthe doori or inthe roof adj acont' thereto, and over the pulley 37 downto the windlass 38;

Assumethat the platforms are in the position shown in Fig. 1, and thatitis desired to fold up the scaiold, it is only necessary for theoperator to stand on the ground and turn theiwindlass 38 until theflexible de vices 43 `are pulled over the roller 11i a sufiicientdistanceto raise the platforms 22 to the position shown in Figp.

During the tighteningof the flexible devices 43 and 44, it will beunderstood that the first movement of the platform 22 will be to rest onthe inner ends, then as the flexible devices are further tightened, theouter ends will commence to force the bolt 2G upwardlyin the slot 20,and when the flexible devices are drawn taut at the end `of' themovement, the parts will be substantially in the position shown in Fig.3.

This construction enables the silo to be filled to a point Substantiallylevel with the top of the silo, so .that no space is wastedby the use ofthe scaiold.

It will also be `understcxod that when the scaffold is in its horizontalposition, the pulley 44 may be unhooked `from the flexible device 45,and `hooked to the hook i6, where upon the iiexibledevice 45 may be usedfor pulling up the sectionsof theblower pipe from either the inside oroutside of the silo by changing the `position of Vthe crane 3h withrelation to the upright 34.

A trap door 47 is provided in `the end of the platform Q2 `beneath thevopening 16, so that the scaifold maybe left inposition when the blowerpipe is installed in-the silo.

Some changes may be made "in the construction and arrangement oftheparts of my improved device without departing nfrom its essential`features and purposes, and it is my intention to cover -by -this aplication any such changes which may be` included within `the Scope of`my claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. lnia device of :the class described, a

`pair ofspaced walls, a pairof spacedarallel links "pivoted atonelendyto one Wa 1,:a similar pair of links similarlypivoted to theother Wall and adapted to register `with the first pair 'of links, apair of platforms Y having their inner ends disposed adjacent to eachother and their outer ends pivotally VretenezV supported by the freeends'ofthe respective i pairs of links, means for supporting the.

a pair of platforms having their ends plv otally and slidably mounted'1n sald slots,

means for supporting the free ends of the platform in substantiallyhorizontal `alinernent with the lower ends of the slots inthe links, andmeans forraising the `platforms and links toa position where the linksare substantially parallel to the kadjacent platforms, and the platformsarel in angular position relative `to each other.

In a device of the class described, a panl of spaced walls, asupportabove and between said walls, plurality ofvlinks piv-,V

oted at one end to each of the walls at points in horizontal alinement,said links having elongated slots therein adjacent toptheir free ends, apair of platformsf'having one end pivotally and slidably" mounted in theslots in the links, lmeans for supporting `the Y. free ends of theplatforms, in substantially horizontal alinement with thelower ends ofthe slots in the links, a plurality of flexible devices having one endfixed to the lower ends of the links and their intermediate portionsslidably received respectively in the free ends of the platformsand thesupport, and means for shortening the flexible devices between thesupport and the links;

1l. In a device of the classdescribed, a

pair of spaced walls, a support above and` between said walls, a movableAplatform extended between said walls, comprising two abuttingsections,`m`eans for supporting the outer ends of the sections adaptedtopermit longitudinal movement thereof, and a pair of angular bracketshaving one end pivcted te the inner ends of the sections, and the apexesof the angles pivoted together, a

flexible device extended between tlie upper ends of the brackets, and asupporting means fixed at the upper end to said sup- Copiel of thispatent may be obtained for platform adapte the walls of a silo, said`platform being port and at the other end tothe flexible *dei-i viceintermediate `of its ends.

Y 5.111 a foldin silo scaffold, a folding to be extendedbetween spaceddownwardly from the'upper edge of the walls, means `for folding said'form up to .position substantially the lines of the roof, said meansbeing capable of beingoperated from the ground.

lat-Y wilhin,

6.` The'combination,oftwo scaffold Iplat-l form members in line witheachy other,means ,t for connecting them at thelradjacent ends wherebythey `may fold upwardly, and

`means at their outer ends for slidingly and pivotally securing them toa stationarysupport, whereby an upward pull upon the adjacentv ends ofthe platform members will cause them to fold upwardly and also to movebodily upwardly a their outer ends.

7. Thecombination of two scalfold platp form members in line with eachother, means for connecting them at their adjacent ends whereby they may-fold upwardly, and;

meansat their outer. ends for slidably and pivotally securing them to astat1onarly;

port7 whereby an upward pull upon t e ad jacent ends of the platformmembers will causethem to fold upwardly and also to move bodilycupwardlyat their outer ends, and means for adjustabl suspending theYadjaeentpen'ds of the platform members.

l8. In a device of the class described, a

' circular `silo wall, a roof thereabove, a movable platform extendedbetween saidwalls below their upper edges and comprising two abuttingsections, means for support ing the outer ends of said sections inYposition below the upperedge` of the Wall, means for adjusting thelength of each section,

and means for supporting the inner ends of the platform in substantialalinement with "the outer ends, said last described means being` adaptedto yieldingly spread the inner supends of the sections, whereby theouterends y Vof `the scaffold may abut against the circular inner surface ofthe silo to Vprevent lateralV movement of the scaffold relative to thewall. x

Des YlVIoines, Iowa, December 29, 1916;

WILLIAM l/VAITMAN GARNER.

ve cents each, by addressing the f Commissioner of Patents, `Washington,D. C.

